Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-19
TIE SLAVE SHIP.

have heard great deal about the horrors
of the slave traffic in days gone by, but one
Of the most horrible instances Of the many
which could be related occurred under my
own eyes, and with the most appalling sur
| rOund1ngS
In the last days of the African slave traffic
i mean by this during the last voyages of
the vessels fitted out to buy slaves in Africa
and land them in Cuba-I was foremost
hand on an English bark called the Foxshire,
bound from Liverpool to the Cape of Good
Hope We had an average fair run down to
the equator, and there met what nearly every
ship inevitably encounters, light winds,
| tedious Gains, and q deal of work of pulling
and hauling for the crew. We were well OF
| the Gulf of Guinea when even the pulls and
cats paws left us, and there settled down
upon the sea a mighty calm. We had kept
moving q bit up to 10 O'Clock in the morning,
and we had had in plain sight for the last
twenty-four hours a brig which was making
her way out of the gulf. We had been all
this time approaching each other at an angle,
but very slowly, and when the wind finally
left us, the two crafts were bowling and nod
ding at each other on the ground swell over
a space of water which could not have meas
ured more than half mile. We had shown
her our flag the evening before, and she had
replied by hosting the flag Of Spain. Long
enough before the calm set in we had our
suspicious as to her character. Indeed, at
shutdown on the night before an old Jack
Tar in my watch had taken long squint at
her while aloft and had come down to say:
Lads, if that chap off there isn't a black
bird, then may choke to death on my next
mouthful of plum duff"
About II o'clock we were all startled into
activity by a most horrible din from the
brig. Il seemed as if 200 or 800 voices were
yelling il chorus, and the sound did not
cease until broken in upon by the reports Of
firearms
"Ill tell YOU exactly what's taking place on
board that fellow" said the American, who
had been listening intently "IIe's short OF
water NJ the niggers have been pat upon
half Or quarter allowance. They are suffer-
ing and dc>lerate and the crew have had to
shoot down some of the leaders.
The man was a prophet. 1t wasn't yet IL
o'clock when the brig launched boat, five
men got into her, and in q very few minutes
she was alongside, and man who announced
himself as the mate of the SLAYER was on deck.
Everybody knesy his errand. It was well
known that we had plenty of fresh water,
but would our captain spare him single
pint?
I'm mate of the brig yonder, and am sent
to see if you can spare US a few casks of
water"
That brig's a slaver," exclaimed cur cap
tain, who seemed filled with Indignation.
Certainly, and we've got 800 niggers
aboard who want water the worst way"
"How came you in such a fix!'
"Had our cargo all in, and were filling our
water casks when a cruiser hove in sight,
and we had to cut. But for this calm we
should have been back on the coast two days
ago"
ON you, sir, you ought to be hung to
the yardarmr' shouted the captain, as he
paced back and forth.
"Every man to his own idea," calmly re-
piled the mate "The main thing now is to
get water for the niggers. If we don't get
it not one of them will be alive tomorrow
night"
Our captain hung out for while. He
was too merciful to be the indirect cause
of their death, and be finally consented
to spare five casks of water. Arrangements
for the transfer were being made, when the
furious hubbub of half an hour before was re-
peated, only there was more savageness to it
this time 1t did not die away as before, but
kept increasing in intensity, and lasting SO
long that the mate leaped upon the rail and
looked toward the brig and muttered:
The devils are making a break at last.
WHY don't the men use the guns"
His words were followed by the reports of
a dozen muskets, and they were still cracking
away when some one stood on the rail of the
brig AMI waved his hat i'll our direction.
"The uicgerS are loose, exclaimed the mate,
as be made for his boat. That signal is for
me. but I'll return for the water as soon as the
outbreak IS put down"
He was Off in another moment, and his men
pulled such a stroke that their boat was car
ried to the briggs side in four or five minutes.
She was run under the bows and the men
scrambled up over the chains. We knew that
the outbreak was serious, for the hubbub in
creased. and we could see the crew rushing
wildly about. There was q continual pop of
musketrv, and we became so excited that
every man in the ship, cook included, hurried
aloft TO look down upon the strangers decks
As we lay broadside to each other and the
distance was so short, we could see all that
took place. Despite the desperate efforts of
the crew, the negroes were finding their way
on deck. They were shot and dubbed aud
hacked, but they came faster than they could
be taken care of, and in half an hour from
the time the mates boat left us the blacks
had possession of at least one half the brig
They got hold Of some Of the InusketS and
cutlaSses, and they seemed to know how to
use the former as well as the sailors. The
forward gratings were pried off and the hold
emptied of its living cargo, and during all
this time there was fierce fighting in the waist
of the brig.
The blacks had no fear, and once loose,
their savage natures were thoroughly
aroused When they got possession of half
the vessel they captured the water butt on
deck, and we saw them drinking with the
| bullets flying past their ears. The water
seemed to add TO their desperation. for soon
| after getting possession of it 100 or more
blacks made q grand rush, armed with every
sort Of weapon, and after conflict OF five
| minutes they had possession OF the ship
Three of the crew saved their lives for the
| time being by running aioft, but all the others
| seemed TO have been killed. You cannot SUP
| pose We We're Quist spectators OF such scene.
1t cut Us men, though, 10 see the Spaniards
making 4 fight Of % to 500, AMI gradually
falling back and fighting TO the last, without
asking for cur help When the grand rush
was made and the remnant of the crew
driven al0ft, a sort of groan went through
1 c1ss